Apple has finally decided to join the RCS bandwagon, announcing that it will support the advanced messaging protocol in its Messages app from 2024. This move will end the long-standing compatibility issue between iOS and Android devices, and bring a host of new features on both platforms alike.
But what is RCS and why is it important? To know more about the technology that Google has been widely promoting and pushing Apple to adopt, we need to go back to how it all started. Google has been widely promoting the #getthemessage campaign taking a dig at Apple for adopting the format often with its satirical take.
First, let’s get back to the basics of how it came to be.
SMS: The OG standard
SMS, or Short Message Service, is the oldest and most widely used messaging protocol in the world. It's been around since 1992 when a Vodafone engineer named Neil Papworth sent his boss a "Merry Christmas" message. SMS has become a staple of mobile communication, but it has its limitations. For instance, it can only send text messages of up to 160 characters and can't handle multimedia content like photos, videos, audio, or GIFs. Additionally, SMS doesn't support end-to-end encryption. Despite its limitations, SMS is advantageous because it works on any phone, regardless of the operating system, carrier, or data connection. This makes SMS a reliable and universal fallback for more advanced protocols, including iMessage.
iMessage: The Apple exclusive
iMessage is a messaging protocol developed by Apple in 2011 that's only available on Apple devices like iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches, and Macs. iMessage has a variety of features, including read receipts, typing indicators, group chats, stickers, animations, and end-to-end encryption, making it a robust and secure messaging platform. iMessage also supports multimedia content, such as high-quality photos, videos, audio, and GIFs, without any loss of quality.
If you're using iMessage to send a message, it will automatically detect whether the recipient is using an Apple device or not. If they are, your message will be sent as an iMessage and will appear in a blue bubble. If they are not, your message will be sent as an SMS or MMS and will appear in a green bubble. This means that iMessage users can communicate with anyone, but they may lose some of the features and quality that iMessage offers.
Unfortunately, Android users may feel left out of the iMessage experience due to its reliance on SMS/MMS for Android communication. As a result, media files may appear pixelated, and features like read receipts and typing indicators may not be available. Additionally, group chats involving both iPhone and Android users can be challenging to manage.
RCS: A New Messaging Protocol
RCS, or Rich Communication Services, is a messaging protocol that aims to replace SMS and MMS. It offers a similar experience to iMessage but across all devices and platforms. RCS is a project initiated by the GSMA, a trade body that represents the interests of the mobile communications industry. Also known as Advanced Messaging, RCS supports features such as read receipts, typing indicators, group chats, stickers, animations, and end-to-end encryption. RCS also allows users to send and receive multimedia content, such as high-resolution photos, videos, audio, and GIFs, without any quality loss or size limit.
To use RCS, you need a data plan or Wi-Fi connection, as it uses your mobile data connection or Wi-Fi to send and receive messages, instead of your carrier's mobile network. RCS messages are indicated by a chat icon in your messaging app, such as Messages by Google, which is the default app for RCS on Android devices.
Unlike iMessage, RCS is not a single service or app, but a protocol that can be implemented by different carriers, device makers, and app developers. This means that RCS is not controlled by any one company, but it also means that RCS requires the cooperation and coordination of multiple stakeholders to work properly. This has been one of the main challenges and delays in the rollout of RCS, as different carriers and device makers have their versions and timelines for RCS.
What led us to this point?
Well, it all started with the development of RCS, a messaging protocol that aimed to surpass the limitations of SMS and offer a more advanced and multimedia-rich experience. However, RCS faced many obstacles in its adoption, as different carriers and device makers had their versions of it that were not compatible with each other. Google stepped in to promote RCS and created a universal profile for it, but it still faced resistance from some players in the industry.
Apple, on the other hand, had no incentive to support RCS, as it had its successful messaging service in iMessage that offered end-to-end encryption and gave it a competitive advantage. However, the recent passage of the DMA in the EU has changed the game, as it requires gatekeepers like Apple to allow interoperability with other messaging services. Google has taken advantage of this opportunity to challenge Apple's dominance and filed a complaint to the European Commission. This seems to have prompted Apple to change its stance on RCS and contest the DMA assignments. The details of Apple's complaints are not public, but it's clear that the messaging landscape is changing rapidly.
What impact will Apple's decision to support RCS in 2024 have on iPhone and Android users?
The good news is that both groups of users will benefit from a more consistent and enhanced messaging experience, as the iOS-Android divide in messaging will end. However, Apple has not yet provided many details on integrating RCS into its Messages app, or whether it will treat RCS messages differently from iMessage messages. Apple may continue to use blue and green bubbles to distinguish between the two and prioritize iMessage over RCS when communicating with other Apple users.
Nonetheless, the adoption of RCS will still improve the user experience for both iOS and Android users, allowing them to enjoy features like read receipts, typing indicators, group chats, and high-quality multimedia content when communicating with each other. Apple has also pledged to work with GSMA members to improve the existing Universal Profile protocol, focusing on adding end-to-end encryption to the standard, addressing one of Apple's main concerns with RCS.
RCS is not a new app, but a protocol that works with your existing messaging app and does not require you to sign up for anything. As long as your phone, carrier, and app support RCS, and the person you're messaging meets the same requirements, you can take advantage of everything that RCS has to offer. RCS is truly the future of messaging, and Apple's support of RCS is a long-awaited and welcome step towards that future.
Originally published on Interesting Engineering : Original article